Alan Shatter (Dublin South, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

The Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission was established under the Garda Síochána Act 2005 to provide independent oversight of complaints made against members of the Garda Síochána. It has a hugely important role in ensuring public confidence in the Garda Síochána is safeguarded.

The 2005 Act also provides for protocols on the sharing of information between the Garda Síochána and the Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission. Protocols were agreed in 2007 and set down time limits for the provision of information by the Garda Síochána to the ombudsman commission. The ombudsman commission, however, raised concerns regarding delays in concluding its investigations, in particular delays in receiving requested information from the Garda Síochána.

In response to these concerns, I convened a meeting with the Garda Commissioner and the chairperson of the ombudsman commission on 23 July. The aim of the meeting was to explore how best to ensure the highest level of practical co-operation between the Garda Síochána and the ombudsman commission in what can be complex and difficult investigations into alleged Garda misconduct. I am very pleased, therefore, to see that the Garda Commissioner and the chairperson of the ombudsman commission have signed new protocols providing for enhanced co-operation between the two organisations. The protocols are available on the website of the ombudsman commission. These new protocols will support the ombudsman commission in carrying out investigations in the most effective and timely manner possible, to the benefit of both complainants and members of the Garda Síochána alike. They also reflect the commitment of the Garda Commissioner to the full co-operation of the Garda Síochána in these investigations.

To facilitate early engagement for any emerging issues, I have established a committee chaired by a senior official in my Department, with senior representatives from the ombudsman commission and the Garda Síochána, to act as a forum where any such issues can be identified and appropriately addressed. I hope this will ensure there will be no further difficulties and that any previous issues that arose should not distract from the substantive work of the Garda Síochána and its successes. In this context, I refer to the latest official recorded crime figures from the CSO which cover the 12 month period to the end of the second quarter in 2013 and which show reductions in 12 out of the 14 categories. The total reduction is in excess of 20,000 offences, or 8% overall, and this builds on reductions recorded in the previous figures from the CSO. The overall picture presented in the latest CSO statistics show that, despite the budgetary constraints with which we are dealing, the Garda Síochána continues to deliver a first class policing service to the people of this country.

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